Goodnight

Please excuse me if I make it short and sweet tonight. I have walked a long way today, about 15 miles at a guess, it could be more. I can't check it on bike hike until the morning, they have closed down for the night. I am a tad sleepy, so I think I'll go to bed. Goodnight. xxx

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Walking your way to health

Eeeee, aint this sun grand, makes you want to get out and walk. And so, the topic today is walking. My friend is a member of the Ramblers, he goes out once or twice a week on group walks, and he also gets a magazine sent through the post, four times a year. When he has finished with it he passes it on to me, and when I have finished with it I pass it on to another friend who likes walking. 

Something in this copy caught my eye, and I am going to pinch bits from the article to pass on here. You might find it interesting. The title, '20 reasons why walking can change your life and the world you live in'. This is about a new report from the Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support, on how walking has major benefits to the health, the economy, and the environment. Some of them we all know about, but this report backs up the obvious benefits with real facts. 

1. Physical inactivity is responsible for 17% of early deaths in the UK, and 6% of deaths around the world, making it the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality.

2. A major study comparing the health impact of brisk walking with running found that walkers benefited as much as runners from a reduced risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, as long as they used the same amount of energy over a longer period.

3. 12,061 emergency admissions in England for coronary heart disease could be avoided each year if everyone did the Government's recommended level of exercise, and heart disease and related strokes could be cut by up to 35%

4. Studies on the brains of older people have shown that keeping physically active can improve cognitive function, memory, and processing speed, and reduce the risk of dementia.

5. The mental health charity Mind, recommends that outdoor activities should be recognised as a clinically valid treatment for mental distress. Studies have shown that it improves your self perception and self esteem, and produces feelings of well being.

6. Walking improves sleep quality.

7. Walking is free, you don't need an expensive gym membership, and you don't need any special equipment, and will save money on making shorter journeys on foot.

8. Walking is proven to blunt the effects of blood sugar spikes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes in high risk individuals. If everyone in England was sufficiently active nearly 3000,000 cases of diabetes could be avoided each year.

9. Physically active older people are up to 68% less likely to fracture a hip, and are far less prone to falls because of the stronger bones.

10. Like many developed countries, England is experiencing a serious inactivity crisis. 61% of adults and 30% of children between 2 and 15, are classed as overweight or obese. Walking for Health is is England's largest network of health walks, supporting and engaging an inclusive programme that meets the needs of local people.

I have summarized a few of the reasons how walking can change your life. If you want to read the full report click on the link to the Walking for Health web site, and click on Walking Works, Our new report. There are also links to help you find a group in your area if you don't want to walk alone.

There is a lot of useful information in the Ramblers magazine. Top ten walks from around Britain, with maps, to keep for reference. Stories of volunteers working hard to keep footpaths open. Ask the experts feature. Reports of walks in other countries. Walking events around the country. And lots of ideas of where to walk.

Although I am not keen on walking in groups, I have decided to join the Ramblers. They are a charity and do a lot of work to keep the footpaths open. I have been out today with my shears chopping back the vegetation on a footpath in my village. It was getting rather overgrown and wading through waist high nettles wearing shorts is not very nice.

The annual membership fee is �33, for a pensioner it is �20. I have paid with �11 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers, so Ramblers will get the money from Tesco. If you want to read up about the Ramblers, go to their web site. 

Have I inspired anyone to get walking? It doesn't have to be a ten mile slog, it can be what ever you want it to be, as long as you get off your bum and do something. I will be out tomorrow. Starting at the Humber Bridge I shall be walking across it and along the Yorkshire Wolds Way, to meet up with some guys from the Walking Forum. They will be on the last leg of their long walk, and when I meet them I will turn round and walk back with them. Looking forward to it. Let me know how much walking you are doing this weekend, or anytime, it isn't just a weekend activity. Any spare hour will do, any day you like.
Toodle pip.

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Just dreaming

This book is a blast from my past, I remember reading it when I was in my mid twenties like it was a bible. I bought a copy and kept it for years, picking it up now and again to remind myself that I could have anything I wanted. It gave me hope and inspiration for the future, if I followed her example I could indeed 'Have it all'. 

The idea of having it all when I was in my twenties was a lot different to what I see as having it all now. I wanted money, I wanted a lovely place to live, I wanted to travel, I wanted to be pretty, I wanted to have lots of friends to go out dancing with, I wanted to be popular and be with the 'in' crowd. To achieve this I needed fashionable clothes, to get my hair done every week, to wear makeup every day, and to be seen in all the right places with the right people. I thought that by having lots of money meant that you could have anything you wanted. People would like you, people would love you. Oh how shallow that all sounds now.

Today at the age of 65, my outlook on life is completely different. My priorities have changed. It's funny that when you are young you always want more, natural I suppose given that you still have a big chunk of your life left to live. When you are young you set your sights higher, you see what everyone else has and you want the same. Life is a competition when you are young, and when you are winning it can be a blast.

Now that I have dropped out of the competition, life is a lot more sweeter and my dreams are a lot more simpler. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in wanting to do the best for yourself, nothing wrong in wanting a better life. It's a good job that there are people with ambition, but there comes a time when you have to ask yourself what are you willing to give up to achieve your goals. How far should you push yourself? Do you keep on keeping on to get that new car or flat screen TV?

No, I haven't given up on my dreams, I still have some living to do, but it's on my terms. My dreams have changed, the goal posts have moved. Yes, when I was young I wanted the things that all teenage girls wanted in the sixties and early seventies, but when I hit my mid twenties my personality was not defined by material possessions, it was for a desire to enjoy each day as it came. Having it all is generally regarded as being wealthy, having a wonderful spouse, a fantastic job, and a loving family around you. In reality I was never going to have it all because I didn't have the focus or the ambition to push myself to the limit. My work brought me enough income to pay my way in life, and luckily I found a job which I enjoyed. What I didn't know then, and what I do know now is that I did have it all, but didn't know it.

Helen Gurley Brown was the editor of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years, the same length of time I was a lorry driver. She died, aged 90, in August 2012. To read more about her life, click here.

Toodle pip.
PS. The beads have arrived today, thank you kind reader.

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Really nice shopping bags

Good morning. I want to get on with stuff today so I am posting here early. I bet you have been wondering what I have been doing the last couple of days, while posting the photo's. Here are the fruits of my labour. Eight shopping bags finished, photo's taken before I give them away. I'm on a use up the fabric crusade. Nothing fancy just bog standard easy to sew bags. They can be folded, washed, chucked in the car, used for groceries, or kept for best. They are handy for carting all sorts of stuff around, library books, swimming gear, baby and toddler stuff, gym wear, and lunch bag for a day out. One of my craft club friends brings her knitting in hers every week and loves it. 

It is forecast that we are in for some sunshine in the next few days. Luvvly jubbly, got to get some of that. The end of my road looks a scruffy mess, I'll get a black bag and pull up the weeds and tidy round.

I have booked an appointment with the nurse to have the jab, thanks for your input in that matter. The battle with slugs and snails is ongoing, but hey ho, there are some broad beans on the way, and the spuds look great. Six courgette plants should eventually give me something to eat. I wanted to sow some more seeds in a vacant bed, but on lifting the plastic compost bag covering it I found three frogs have set up home there, so only half the bed can be used. Didn't want to destroy their secret hideaway, they are safe from the cats if they stay covered.

Catch you tomorrow. Toodle pip.

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A last bimble around Birmingham.

Good morning, I'm multitasking today, uploading these photo's while I sew another shopping bag. Computer and sewing machine side by side, swapping from one to the other. Here are the last few pics from Saturday's visit to Birmingham. I noticed while walking around the city that there was hardly any litter on the ground. I saw several street cleaning personnel with their carts, tidying up and emptying the litter bins. I believe that if you have a tidy place people are less likely to drop litter because then it is seen as an anti social act. If you leave litter lying around people are more likely to add to it. Thumbs up for Birmingham for keeping it under control. 

The parks and gardens department also seem to be doing their bit to make the place look attractive. The splash of colours in the border here show the architecture behind them to their best advantage.  

I like the way the trees soften the sharp lines of the buildings. A perfect balance.

The Library of Birmingham is in Centenary Square, I love the way the circles are overlapping. A very innovative piece of architecture, don't you think. Here is a link to their web site.

This is the Hall of Memory, a war memorial built in 1922. It is made from Portland stone from the Isle of Portland in Dorset. Additional information here. 

The Symphony Hall is also on Centenary Square.

 The gold statues are just across the road from the Square.

Next to the Library is the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Who is that strange woman, ha ha. 

Time for afternoon refreshments. The family sat down for a drink next to the canal, and I spotted a sign for the Gas Street Basin. Worth a look I thought. Nephew came with me. The Birmingham canal network has an amazing network of junctions, locks, and tunnels, where visitors come back year after year to explore the hidden nooks and crannies. Additional information here.

Nice to find this peaceful little haven in the middle of a bustling city centre.

Time to make our way back to the station and part company with sister in law as she headed for the London train. It was a smashing day out, a bit of everything, and lots of different contrasting views of Birmingham. It wouldn't have been my first choice of place to meet knowing how busy a city would be on a Saturday, but I'm glad I went. Worth another look sometime in the future, maybe a weekday. I want to look inside the library, and find some art galleries and museums.

It's a bit chilly this morning, I'll carry on with the sewing. Toodle pip.

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Still bimbling around Birmingham

Hello, a few more photo's from my day in Birmingham. After lunch we had another walkabout. There seemed to be a carnival atmosphere in the air. A heavy downpour had sent people running for cover, but the sun was soon to break out again and we found ourselves in front of the Council House. Stalls had set up outside, mainly for entertaining children with a variety of games and arts and crafts for them to try out. There was live theatrical performances inside a marquee, comedy and entertainment for anyone who wanted to enter. 

This contraption is operated by squeezing the foot pump, which set the moving parts in motion, and played fairground music.

The fountain at the front of the building was not working.

The Council house was built between 1874 and 1879, and is used for all council meetings. If you want to know more details please look at the web site. On it you will find a link to a Virtual Tour of the inside of the building. Using the buttons you can view several rooms. If you want to go straight to the tour click here. Best seen on full screen. 

Here are a few of my photo's, I particularly liked the amazing ornate ceilings.

This is a banqueting room, it has been set up for visitors to take afternoon tea and cake today. 

This is the Council Chamber where all the meetings take place.

The ceiling in the Chamber is lovely.

This is the Glass Corridor. At the far end, above the door is a mirror giving the impression that it's a lot longer than it actually is.

This is the Lady Mayoress's room, note the pink chairs. There was a past lady Mayoress in attendance, she gave us a fascinating insight of the work she did during her year of official engagements. It sounded like she rarely got a day off, 1500 events to attend, and she loved every minute of it.

There was a craft fair on, so plenty to look at. The fudge stall proved too much of a temptation to the little ones, and they each got to choose which flavours they liked best. 

We walked a little further and came across more free entertainment. An open air slapstick comedy show was taking place, the performers were clowning about. 

I'm going to have to leave the rest for tomorrow, I didn't realise I took so many. So if you want to continue my virtual tour of Birmingham, drop in tomorrow.

Today it is dry and a bit breezy. I've been to the Craft Club, made some more shopping bags, and now I'm going to do an hour in the garden. Toodle pip, see you soon.

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Bimbling around Birmingham

Happy Fathers day to all daddies. My nephew pictured below, is dad to the two little girls. Also in the photo is my sister on the left, and my late brothers wife. We all met up yesterday for a day out in Birmingham. It was a very long day for me, I left home at 7.15 am to drive to my sisters house, then we got a taxi to the station and finished the journey by train. After walking for miles, we got the train back, and before I left to drive home I met up with Louise. It was lovely to meet her, she dropped everything at short notice and picked me up at the station, and we went for a drink at a pub I used to frequent many years ago. The Sump on the side of the River Trent made a nice setting to sit in the sun and have a natter. I managed to get a quick visit in to Uncle and Aunt, before I set off for home, arriving 15 minutes before midnight. I was pretty shattered by then. 

Forty years ago I used to live in Birmingham, and I don't think I have been more than half a dozen times since. I don't remember much about it, but I did like the Bull Ring shopping centre. Now it is all different, updated and new.

Let's go in and have a look around.

Shopping is no longer in my system, I step inside one of these places and want to run away shouting 'get me out of here'. Saturday afternoon is not the best time to visit a big city, it was crowded and noisy, and I spent the day dodging shoppers who were wandering around in a daze. Oh boy, I am sounding like an old grouch.
 

S'funny but I don't like the inside of shopping centre's, but I do like the outside. Modern architecture fascinates me, especially when it is so innovative. I wonder about the creative mind that comes up with these ideas. 

A little bit of the old has been left here with this church. 

Looking down from the balcony next to it.

Waterstones bookstore is inside this beautiful old building. 

More views of the wide shopping streets. I much prefer wandering around the outdoor streets rather than be trapped inside a glass and steel modern structure, and herded around like cattle.

Birthday presents for the girls, and Daddy is reading the instructions on how to make the dolly sing. Eventually it was sussed, and an hour later daddy was trying to work out how to stop the dolly singing, ha ha.

There are more photo's so I have split them, I'll post some more tomorrow.

I'm having an easy day today, pottering, sewing, bimbling, reflecting, relaxing. I hope your day is enjoyable.
Toodle pip.

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